With charges of corruption within FIFA escalating, president Sepp Blatter announced on Tuesday that he will resign to make way for “deep-rooted structural change”. 

At a press conference in Zurich called at extremely short notice, Blatter announced he will resign “at the earliest opportunity”.

The announcement came shortly after reports that FIFA administered an alleged $10m bribe from the South African government to CONCACAF president Jack Warner in 2008, and an ABC News report claiming that Blatter was himself under investigation by FBI and US prosecutors. 

Two days before Blatter’s re-election, several officials were arrested in a dawn raid on the Baur au Lac Hotel. The US Department of Justice has since charged 14 officials employed by FIFA and associated agencies with 47 charges of corruption including racketeering, fraud and money laundering.  

"While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football,” Blatter said. 

"Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress.”

The extraordinary Congress is likely to be convened between September 2015 and March 2016. 

“This will need to be done in line with FIFA's statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign,” said Blatter.

Waiting until the next ordinary FIFA Congress on 13 May 2016 would “cause unnecessary delay”, he said.

Blatter said by stepping down he would be able to focus on reforming FIFA. “Since I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that elections inevitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts. 

“For years, we have worked hard to put in place administrative reforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough.”

He also said the structure of FIFA’s Executive Committee and its relations with the continental confederations must be overhauled. 

“The Executive Committee includes representatives of confederations over whom we have no control, but for whose actions FIFA is held responsible. We need deep-rooted structural change.

“The size of the Executive Committee must be reduced and its members should be elected through the FIFA Congress. The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members must be organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confederations.”

Blatter, who has presided over FIFA for 17 years, also called for term limits, “not only for the president but for all members of the Executive Committee.”

"I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked. This time, I will succeed.”

Blatter has asked Domenico Scala, Independent Chairman of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee to oversee the transition over the coming months. 

“Mr. Scala enjoys the confidence of a wide range of constituents within and outside of FIFA and has all the knowledge and experience necessary to help tackle these major reforms.”

Blatter thanked all his supporters, saying “What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner."

Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan denied Blatter a majority in the first round of voting in Friday’s election and he has not ruled out standing again. 

Prince Ali told CNN "I think this is the right move from Sepp Blatter and I think we have to look to the future.

"I am always there to serve football and I think that's the most important thing and to do so much work to fix this organisation in a proper way.

"I am at the disposal of our national associations. I don't want to be somebody who kicks somebody in the knees. At the end of the day I will do my part to help the national associations.”

Other possible candidates include Michel Platini, Luis Figo, Jerome Champagne and Michel van Praag.

His resignation was welcomed by IOC president Thomas Bach, who said “We highly respect this decision of President Blatter to step down and to initiate the necessary reforms – and to make way for a new leadership of FIFA to drive these changes.”

Sepp Blatter remains an IOC member until his 80th birthday on 10 March 2016. 

FIFA has appointed Dr François Carrard, former IOC director general and coordinator of the IOC 2000 Reform Commission to chair its 2016 Reform Committee. 

As an independent chairman, Carrard will oversee FIFA’s process of reform that has been initiated in response to investigations into corruption. 

As Director General of the International Olympic Committee, Dr Carrard guided the IOC through its own governance reforms in the wake of the bidding process for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. An internationally renowned Swiss lawyer, Dr Carrard brings specific experience of the challenges faced by global sports organisations such as FIFA.

 “It is vital for the future of global football to restore the integrity and reputation of its governing body,” Carrard said.

“As the independent chairman, I am committed to delivering the necessary package of credible reforms, working with representatives from within football and wider society. To that end, I will establish an independent advisory board, made up of representatives from outside football, to support the work of the committee and provide an additional layer of independent expertise.”

Carrard was appointed after consultation with the six football confederations, each of which have appointed two representatives to the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee.

FIFA President Blatter said: “We believe Dr Carrard is the right person to drive this reform process forward as an independent chairman with a proven track record in governance reforms. We are confident that he can help FIFA to strengthen its governance structures in a credible and meaningful way. FIFA’s commercial partners will also play a key role in the reforms, and we will be discussing with them the most productive way to include their views.”

The 2016 Reform Committee will present its comprehensive proposals to the FIFA Congress in February. 

This is a difficult time for football, the fans and for FIFA as an organisation. We understand the disappointment that many have expressed and I know that the events of today will impact the way in which many people view us.

As unfortunate as these events are, it should be clear that we welcome the actions and the investigations by the US and Swiss authorities and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken to root out any wrongdoing in football.

While there will be many who are frustrated with the pace of change, I would like to stress the actions that we have taken and will continue to take. In fact, today’s action by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General was set in motion when we submitted a dossier to the Swiss authorities late last year.

Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game. Following the events of today, the independent Ethics Committee – which is in the midst of its own proceedings regarding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups -- took swift action to provisionally ban those individuals named by the authorities from any football-related activities at the national and international level. These actions are on top of similar steps that FIFA has taken over the past year to exclude any members who violate our own Code of Ethics.

We will continue to work with the relevant authorities and we will work vigorously within FIFA in order to root out any misconduct, to regain your trust and ensure that football worldwide is free from wrongdoing. 

I bring you greetings from my home country of Jordan; a land of peace; a country that serves as a bridge between cultures; and a mediator in times of conflict; a country that is at the crossroads of all continents and civilizations.

A country that believes in the pursuit of values, such as integrity, honesty and respect.

We are in a crucial time for football. Both inside and outside the football family, people have expressed concern about the way FIFA is run.

And there are some deep rooted issues that we as a family must unite to confront together.

Around the world there is a real appetite for change, new leadership, better support to National Associations, meaningful investment in football development, and for FIFA to be a genuine service organisation.

This movement calls for a better FIFA, one based on respect and dignity, admired by our stakeholders, and governed with a spirit of inclusion and transparency.

For the past 16 years as President of a developing FA I understand the many challenges associated with that job. I am also proud to have been elected as a FIFA Vice President for Asia and have always tried to bring the interests and needs of National Associations to the FIFA Executive Committee.

I envisage a FIFA that empowers its Member Associations, while always maintaining the highest standards of good governance.

We need a change of culture and a departure from FIFA’s authoritarian approach to strategy.

Strategic direction must come from the Confederations and Member Associations so that their interests become THE priority in the future.

So, this election is not simply about choosing a person you believe in, it is about choosing a future for football and for FIFA, your FIFA.

FIFA, from a commercial perspective, has in many ways been riding the wave of European football’s success which has also helped directly the success of the FIFA World Cup.

And while the popularity of the World Cup has soared, the image of the organisation has sadly declined.

Imagine a rejuvenated FIFA, with its own reputation rebuilt and restored, coupled with the love of football, the only possible outcome will be explosive commercial growth far exceeding what we see now.

Ongoing and new commercial success coupled with the excess funds from our reserves can combine to create the right formula we need for FIFA’s development programmes.

The aim has to be to expand the game to new markets and territories, and give more countries a chance to produce new talent and achieve success at international level, both youth and senior level and in both men’s and women’s football. And allow Member Associations to aspire to host these events and receive the necessary support.

Many FAs around the world still do not have their basic needs met such as kits, pitches and infrastructure while others have a different pressure of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Whatever the case, the answer can only lie in harnessing the creative power and minds across FIFA’s Member Associations to give us the solutions to fit their specific needs, on a case by case basis.

And we need to expand financial support to the Member Associations because the more sustainable they are, the better it is for football and for FIFA.

I see a new era where development is a fundamental right of Member Associations… not a gift from FIFA.

There is also a human dimension here. I want to see new development partnerships in coaching, in governance and in player talent. I would like to see scholarship programmes to link coaches, officials and players around the world to benefit all our Member Associations.

I also believe that football has to use its power in the field of social responsibility to help the wider society and this is something very dear to my heart.

We must preserve the integrity of the competition, ensure that the highest standard of football is played at the game’s global flagship event and that neither format nor slots become subject to political whim and manoeuvring.

Too often we see FAs deliberately marginalised and played off against each other.

I am proud to be endorsed by Member Associations from three different Confederations. However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Members of UEFA who had the courage to grant me their support, Belarus, England, Georgia, and Malta.

FIFA should take great pride in what European football has given the world. You have set the highest standards in all that you do, both on and off the field, and the whole world watches, including my children, when the great dramas of European football play out.

Over the next two months it is essential that together we focus on the opportunity for real change and genuine reform.

This is a crossroads which could set FIFA on a new and positive path. That is the choice that the football family faces on May 29th.

This is an edited transcript of Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s address to the UEFA Congress

With just over a month to go before the FIFA presidential election, candidate HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein met with His Holiness Pope Francis at The Vatican on Thursday to discuss the global development of football and how to promote peace and social responsibility through sport.

In the private meeting, Pope Francis and Prince Ali discussed the challenges and opportunities around developing football globally. They also talked about how sport and football can help to promote peace and social responsibility. 

“I have been greatly inspired by Pope Francis’s work to use sport to build bridges between people of differing faiths and cultures,” said Prince Ali.

“Pope Francis is a true innovator in this regard; it was a great honour to meet with him not only in his capacity as the leader of one of the largest faiths in the world, but also in his capacity as a much-admired champion for peace, tolerance and inter-faith dialogue and understanding. Our discussions were very fruitful and we share a common vision of using sport as a force for good in the world.”  

Pope Francis is a football lover and supporter of Buenos Aires-based team the Saints of San Lorenzo. Before the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he published a video message in which he described football as “a game and at the same time an opportunity for dialogue, understanding and reciprocal human enrichment”.

Last year, the Vatican hosted an interfaith charity football match to promote peace, in which he welcomed past and present greats of the football world for the high-profile game at the Vatican.

Prince Ali is said to be a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed.

The development of football is a key concern of Prince Ali, who has been vice president of FIFA since 2011. In January 2012, he founded the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP), a non-profit youth commission headquartered in Amman, Jordan.

The AFDP works to develop football across Asia with a focus on youth development, empowering women, social responsibility and the protection and evolution of the game. AFDP led the successful campaign to lift the ban on head scarves in football.

Prince Ali has worked to promote unity and develop football since becoming President of the Jordan Football Association in 1999. In 2000, he founded the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), of which he is president. WAFF’s members are Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The president of FIFA will be elected on May 29th.

The presidents of the world’s 209 Football Associations will elect the president of FIFA at the FIFA Congress on 29 May. 

With FIFA’s continental “confederations” holding great sway over voting intentions, and with all of these confederations bar UEFA said to be supporting Sepp Blatter, the incumbent president looks set to secure a historic fifth term. 

Candidates must state their intention to run for president on 29 January, with the support of five nominating member associations. Are there any serious challengers in the mix?

Sepp Blatter

Nationality: Swiss

Age: 78

Announced campaign: 26 September, 2014

Core message: Says he is on a mission to complete the reform process initiated in 2011

Strengths: FIFA President since 1998, seeking a fifth term. Retains strong support of the majority of FAs outside Europe. Five of FIFA’s six continental Confederations are said to be backing Blatter: AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America and Carribean), CONMEBOL (South America) and OFC (Oceania).

Challenges: FIFA enduring external pressures and the emergence of Prince Ali of Jordan as a challenger demonstrates that internal discontent is not limited to Europe.

Jerome Champagne

Nationality: French

Age: 56

Announced campaign: 26 September, 2014

Core message: To remove elitism and global imbalance from the administration of football.

Strengths: Says he is close to gaining the five required nominations.

Challenges: Time is running out and a host of other, more outspoken candidates have emerged.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein

Nationality: Jordanian

Age: 39

Announced campaign: 6 January 2015

Core message: Reform of FIFA, increasing transparency. 

Strengths: Experience as vice president of FIFA, president of Jordanian Football Association and president of West Asian Football Federation. Has backing of the English FA. The only challenger to Sepp Blatter from outside Europe.

Challenges: Has yet to confirm whether he has the number of nominations required. His message of reform is echoed by those of other candidates who have since entered the race. 

David Ginola

Nationality: French

Age: 48

Announced campaign: 16 January 2015

Core message: To restore democracy, transparency and equality to FIFA

Strengths: Has the support of pressure group ChangeFifa but has yet to declare the support of any FAs.

Challenges: Ginola’s campaign is financially supported by bookmaker Paddy Power, yet FIFA rules prohibit candidates “being associated with betting, gambling, lotteries and similar events”. 

Michael van Praag

Nationality: Dutch

Age: 67

Announced campaign: 26 January 2015

Core message: To normalise, modernise FIFA and regain public trust. Presenting himself as the only credible opponent to Blatter.

Support: Has the required five nominations, including support from Scotland.

Challenges: Other European candidates offering a message of reform and transparency could split the vote, if they gain the required nominations. Support outside Europe is limited.

Luis Figo

Age: 42

Nationality: Portuguese

Announced campaign: 28 September 2015

Core message: To repair FIFA’s public image.

Support: Has the required 5 nominations.

Challenges: A recently retired footballer, he lacks experience in football administration.

Presidential candidate HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan produced his most vocal attack on the leadership of FIFA on Tuesday, setting out his stall to fix the tarnished reputation of football’s global governing body.

He spoke of a “culture of intimidation” within FIFA, where people can be punished for standing up for principles. 

Challenging Sepp Blatter and the other two candidates, Michael van Praag and Luis Figo, to a public debate in the run up to the election, he said he hopes the presidential election will be conducted fairly. 

Prince Ali plans to meet soon with van Praag, who he says he admires, and his friend Figo, to discuss strategy and said he would welcome the opportunity to work with them as a team.

He also said he will forsake his seat on FIFA’s Executive Committee if he does not win the election, as he is not prepared to work any longer under the current leadership.

Continental support

Speaking in London to a select group of media including HOST CITY, he revealed the names of the five national football associations from three continents that have nominated him to stand.

“The countries are Belarus, Malta, England, Jordan, USA – and so I’ve very happy with that – and of course Georgia,” he said. 

“These nominations are from three different confederations, which I am very happy with.” 

It has been widely reported that FIFA’s continental confederations tend to vote as blocs, and that incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter has the support of five out of the six confederations. 

However, Prince Ali downplayed the power of confederations in the election process. “This is not a question of confederations – this is a national association vote for the presidency of FIFA and I don’t think that any confederation is necessarily united in that respect.

“I don’t think anyone has a ‘stranglehold’ on any confederation; I think it’s up to member associations to decide.”

He also said the calls for reform are widespread. “I don’t think that it’s just in Europe that there are concerns about FIFA. I see that, having been in South America, in Asia and in Africa and I think it’s time now to make that change.”

A “culture of intimidation”

Addressing speculation that the leadership of the Asian Football Confederation, of which Jordan is a member, has not backed his bid, Prince Ali said “There is a culture of intimidation within FIFA but, having said that, this is a candidacy for the whole world.

“This is a world issue and not just about confederations.”

Pressed on what he meant by “intimidation”, he said “In the past if people take a principled stand, they end up being possibly punished for it.”

Observers have suggested that a strategy is underway to challenge Blatter via an early multi-pronged attack that could switch to supporting a single challenger.

However, Prince Ali welcomed the other candidates. 

“It’s very good that there is more than one candidate and it’s also emblematic of people’s desire to have a positive future. I look forward to meeting with them as soon as possible. 

“Luis Figo is a friend of mine, I know him very well. Michael can Praag is also somebody who I admire and respect a lot, so I would like to sit them down and have a good and honest discussion about how they see things.”

Asked about whether a joint candidacy might even be a possibility, he said: “That does not fall within our statutes, but I would be very welcome to have support and work as a team and with everybody for the future of football. 

“We need to be centralised a bit and we need to give everybody a role and we need to come up with a new way of conducting the sport, from the bottom up.”

Building on a his core message of transparency, he said “I would like to see before the election a public debate, including the incumbent, so that everybody knows across the world what our positions are. I’m ready to do it.”

Rebuilding trust

Widespread concern over allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has had a negative impact on FIFA, with a number of sponsors having dropped their support in recent months. 

“There are many complaints obviously, in particular the reputation of FIFA and where it’s at right now,” he said.

“I am there to rebuild trust in our organisation and that doesn’t include only in our national associations but all stakeholders." 

Asked about how this could be achieved, he said “FIFA needs to include everyone – including yourselves, members of the press. 

“You need to have a long-term plan that does not change based on the whims of a president, and based on real decisions that are conducted with all stakeholders in the game – and fix our reputation. That’s the way I’ve always worked.”

Central to the challenges facing FIFA is the controversial way in which Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup. Asked if he would consider stripping a country of its hosting rights, he said “First of all I believe that every single association has the right to host the World Cup, regardless of their size and so on. 

“Having said that, I was one of the first to ask for the Garcia report to be made public. Because this is a world game and everyone needs to understand what is going on – that is transparency in its essence. 

“The problem really lies in how things took place: for example the double bid. We need to know why that happened. If Qatar had another four years to prepare their bid in a proper way, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Prince Ali was also drawn into pointing the finger directly at Sepp Blatter for the crisis of trust in FIFA.

“Blatter has been president and definitely the president needs to be held personally responsible for what happens; and if I am president I certainly will take responsibility for all actions at FIFA.

“I have a lot of respect for what he’s done in the past, but if we talk about proper reform I am not confident that I’ve seen it. 

“He’s had the chance to do so; we’ve had Mark Peith’s report, which was never in my opinion shown. We’ve also had promises from him that he would not run again – but obviously that was not the case. 

“In full honesty and integrity, he should give the chance to others such as myself.”

Presidency or out

Prince Ali also announced his plans to leave the FIFA Executive Committee if he does not become president of FIFA.

“I have been on the Executive Committee for the last four years and I understand what has been going on,” he said.

“I have always tried to reform FIFA as best I can from the inside, but having said that I do believe the way to go ahead is to run for the presidency itself.”

“My total commitment is running for the presidency of FIFA. I’m not going to sit through another four years of what’s been going on and the only way to change it is from the top."

Despite his core message of a lack of transparency within FIFA’s administration, he remains hopeful that the election process can be conducted fairly and that he can win the election.

“I think I have my reputation, I am where I am and I just hope that things work out in that way, that it’s fair and it’s honest."

The presidents of FIFA's member associations will elect their president on May 29th.

“It’s long campaign, so I don’t think anyone should be written off. Globally there is a desire for change and I am committed to that.

“If things are played fair and rightly, things will grow in the appropriate way.”

A FIFA task force charged with identifying the least disruptive timeframe for hosting the 2022 World Cup finished its six month consultation process today with the recommendation that the event should take place at the end of the year.

The task force has identified end of November to the end of December as the most viable period to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

To minimise disruption to domestic leagues, the tournament will take place over a slightly shorter timeframe than usual, depending on the number of venues to be used. 

According to unconfirmed reports, the tournament could run right up to Christmas with the final taking place on 23 December. 

The dates are set to be confirmed at the next FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich on 19 and 20 March 2015.

 “The outcome of the discussions is also a proposed reduced competition days schedule with the exact dates to be defined in line with the match schedule and number of venues to be used for the 22nd edition of football’s flagship event,” said FIFA. 

How many venues Qatar will use for the World Cup is still unknown. 12 venues were proposed in the bid; FIFA’s minimum requirement is eight but it would be difficult to shorten the timeframe of the tournament with so few venues. 

Reducing the number of teams from 32 or matches from 64 has not been discussed.

Qatar’s bid for the World Cup was based on a summer tournament, but since being awarded the right to host the event it has become evident that the temperatures would be too high, even with advanced cooling technologies.  

A FIFA statement also cited the 2022 Winter Olympics and Ramadan as immovable obstacles.

“Given that the two bidding cities for the 2022 Winter Olympics - Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Beijing (China PR) - pledged recently to host the winter games from 4 to 20 February 2022; that the month of Ramadan begins on 2 April in 2022; and that consistently hot conditions prevail from May to September in Qatar, the only remaining effective option is the November/December window,” said FIFA.

Postponing the event until early 2023 is not an option due to legal reasons, FIFA said.

FIFA says the proposal has the full support of all six confederations. However, European leagues have fought hard to avoid the competition taking place during their calendar. 

England’s Premier League said in a statement: "The 2022 World Cup was bid for and awarded to Qatar as a summer tournament.

"The prospect of a winter World Cup is neither workable nor desirable for European domestic football."

FIFA said the task force took on board the considerations of everyone concerned. 

“The analysis aimed to find the most viable solution for all stakeholders, covering the likely and possible impacts of conditions on players, staff and fans, as well as the knock-on effect for domestic leagues. 

“The representatives of the leagues once again emphasised the impact that a November/December tournament would have on their respective calendars.

“The members deliberated over the various options to determine the least impact on the national and international football calendars.

Discussions are also underway about whether to move some of the qualification matches, with a final phase in early 2022 under consideration.

“We are very pleased that, after careful consideration of the various opinions and detailed discussions with all stakeholders, we have identified what we believe to be the best solution for the 2018-2024 international match calendar and football in general,” said Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the chair of the FIFA task force.

“It was a challenging task and I want to thank all members of the football community for their productive input and constructiveness in helping to find a solution that we believe can work for everyone.”

Luis Figo was the first of the candidates for the FIFA presidency to launch his manifesto today, proposing radical changes to an organisation that he says has deteriorated under the current leadership and suffers from a “negative reaction”.

The retired Portuguese footballer pledged to redistribute at least half of FIFA’s funds equally around the world to develop football at the grass roots level. 

With the aim of establishing good governance, Figo wants to establish a FIFA Football Council to advise the president and Executive Committee, as well as an independent governance, audit and compliance committee with powers to “control the actions of the president”.

He also announced a proposal to increase the number of members on the Executive Committee, with equal representation from each of the continental confederations.

In a bid to boost the global appeal of his candidacy, he also announced plans to increase the number of non-European teams competing in the World Cup.

Figo’s and FIFA’s funding

Drawing on his own life story, Figo revealed that his campaign is entirely self-funded. “I grew up in working class of Lisbon, playing on streets,” said Figo. “My life changed through the power of football and I am lucky to be an independent man. I don’t owe anyone anything; this means I can serve FIFA in the interest of football, for football.

“Thank God I’ve had a long and successful career. When you retire, you need to have a balance – it’s on a smaller scale than FIFA’s budget but the way I’ve managed my finances shows that I can stand on my own two feet. I have enough money to pay for my candidature.”

Figo plans to redistribute FIFA’s revenues to enable children all over the world to get a chance to become professional footballers. 

“I was very lucky and fortunate to play and get training from an early age but I know this opportunity does not exist for many children across the world,” he said.

“This is why I propose radical changes to the way FIFA redistributes its membership payments.

“I want to see at least 50 per cent of FIFA funds spent on grass roots football and to increase the size of the funds available.”

This amounts to US$ 2.5 bn. He also wants to distribute an additional US$1bn directly to the member associations over a four year period. 

Currently, the member associations receive less than US$ 4m per four years.

He questioned FIFA’s current approach of setting aside a US$1.5bn reserve pool to cover the possibility of the World Cup being cancelled. “This money is not FIFA money – it is the member associations’,” he said. 

“US $5m is enough to cover the operational cost of FIFA.”

This offer of cash may help Figo to gain backing for his campaign from the 205 member associations around the world that elect FIFA’s president on 29th May. 

In another bid to boost the appeal of his campaign outside Europe, Figo also said he would like to increase the number of teams competing in the World Cup, without increasing Europe’s participation. 

"I believe we should consider proposals to expand the competition to a 40 or even 48-team World Cup," he said. "Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play."

Structural changes to restore trust

Central to his campaign is rebuilding trust in FIFA. 

“In the last few months and years we’ve come to realise that the FIFA image has deteriorated. 

In Brazil, during the most important sport competition the World Cup, I could see protests against the organisation – and this was in a country that loves football deeply. 

“I could see the reaction to the president of the organisation – I could see quite a negative reaction. This is not an appropriate image.

“When I started to look at all the news about scandals I decided that something needed to change.”

The changes that Figo proposes are major and structural. 

“There must be transparency. My proposal is to change structures, so there will be a wider consultation with members. 

“In the different confederations, we will organise meetings between 10 and 15 member associations... and the summaries of those strategic meetings will be distributed and passed on to the board.”

He also announced plans to establish a new FIFA Football Council to advise the FIFA president and the Executive Committee on issues including the calendar and format of events as well as the laws of the game and football development. 

This council would have a moderating role over hosting decisions.

“It is also important to maintain decisions within the council in terms of which countries go on to organise the World Cup,” he said.

On the issue of the controversy and investigations surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, he acknowledged that there are reports of “irregularities that have taken place, reports not made public.”

But indicative of his aim to achieve global appeal, he did not support any of these claims, saying “If there are no irregularities, I don’t think Qatar should be prejudiced [against].”

He also proposes to merge the existing ethics and disciplinary committees to create a new governance, audit and compliance committee.

“For there to be transparency, the governance committee would have to be a fully independent committee from the council and also from the executive committee, and therefore that they could control the actions of the president.

“With these measures defining the different responsibilities and powers of each body, I think we would have the right measures for transparency within the organisation.”

The composition of the Executive Committee would also become a more level playing field with equal representation internationally. Each continental confederation would have one seat per ten member associations, with an additional seat for member associations that have won the World Cup, with a limit of eight seats per confederation.

With six confederations each bringing up to eight members, this would represents a major increase on the current Executive Committee membership of just 27. 

Can he win it?

Figo chose to launch his bid in London, with the venue for the press conference switched from Stamford Bridge to Wembley Stadium at 24 hours’ notice. 

"London is a global city and Wembley is an emblematic football space. There is no better place to present my ideas to the world,” he said.

Figo’s candidacy was nominated by six European associations. Whether he will be able to gain support from the 205 member associations, the vast majority of whom are said to have unwavering support for the incumbent president Sepp Blatter, remains to be seen. 

“Mr Blatter, well I respect him, he has been leading the organisation for many years. He has had many positive achievements for football and for the organisation but a point has reached where change has needed.”

 Figo’s other competitors in the presidential race are Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and Michael Van Praag of the Netherlands. 

“Looking at the other candidates, we have some good ideas, someone who is in the Executive Committee and who knows how the organisation works internally. Also the Dutch FA president I know and respect very much; he has a lot of experience.”

He denied suggestions that he might step aside to support a single challenger to Blatter. 

“My idea is right now is to run to the end, to see as many people as possible regarding the presidency and to convince them with my ideas.

The president of FIFA will be elected at the FIFA Congress on 29th May.

Luis Figo on Wednesday put himself forward as a candidate for the presidency of FIFA, promising to improve the organisation “deteriorating” image and remove its association with “scandal”.

Announcing his bid with just one day to go before the deadline, Figo joins Prince Ali of Jordan, Jerome Champagne and David Ginola as a challenger to FIFA president Sepp Blatter. 

"I look at the reputation of Fifa right now and I don't like it. Football deserves better.

"In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of Fifa deteriorate,” Figo told journalists. 

"If you search FIFA on the internet, you see the first word that comes out: 'scandal.' Not positive words. It's that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this.

"I've been talking with so many important people in football – players, managers, president of federations – and they all think that something has to be done.

The brand image of FIFA’s most valuable product, the World Cup, is at risk, Figo said.

“Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed.

"Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it's the moment for that."

All candidates will need to show the support of at least five nominating member associations in order to validate their presidential campaigns. 

FIFA’s Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who led the evaluation commission for, and questioned the outcome of, the controversial 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding procedure has said he may also enter the race.

The 42-year old footballing legend played for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, winning FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2001 and the Ballon d'Or in 2000.

FIFA requires presidential candidates to demonstrate that they have worked as “a board member, committee member, referee, assistant referee, coach, trainer [or] any other person responsible for technical, medical or administrative matters in FIFA, a Confederation, Association, League or Club”.

The president will be elected on 29th by FIFA members. Support for incumbent President Blatter is said to be very strong.